African pilot careers given a kick start with new Foundation agreement

Youngsters with aspirations to join the aviation industry in Africa have been given a major boost following an agreement signed at the Aviation Africa summit in Kigali last week.
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International aviation training organisation, Airways Aviation, agreed a new deal with AfBAA and INTech Investments Africa Ltd. to bring its foundation school concept to Africa.

Under the agreement, INTech, a business aviation solutions and regional investments company based in Africa, will open and operate a series of Airways Aviation’s foundation schools according to the training organisation’s syllabus and global standards, in a bid to support the development and enhance the standards of the aviation training sector on the African continent.

Romy Hawatt, Founder of the Airways Aviation Group, says: “This partnership with AfBAA and INTech allows us to attract students through our Aviation Foundation pathway from around the African continent and via a process of teaching, assessment and screening, deliver the highest standard of training and licensing available for those who are looking to pursue a career as a pilot. The aim is to establish 14 Airways Aviation Foundation Schools over the next five years.

“We have identified a new, rapidly emerging demand for pilot training in Africa and fully recognise the need to recruit African students wishing to train as pilots via our European EASA training courses.”

Founding Chairman of AfBAA, Tarek Ragheb, says: “There is a mounting challenge in Africa not just to address the sizable pilot shortage, but to train and recruit quality pilots locally. With our vast experience in this sector we can support African aviation with global insights tailored to regional markets, reducing the economic outlay of recruiting from overseas.”

Managing Director of INTech Investments Africa, Hana Hallaj, added: “We look forward to working with Airways Aviation over the coming years to revolutionise the aviation training sector in Africa. We are confident that the Airways Aviation Business Model is unique and will cater to and support the growing needs of the Aviation industry in Africa.”

Once their training is complete, graduates from the foundation schools who wish to continue their career as airline pilots will have the option of joining one of the Airways Aviation airline pilot training programmes in either Australia or Europe, to work towards their ATPL.